by Dorothy McGowan
Hummingbirds arrived in Fairfax mid-April. There are some early native spring plants that provide a fitting welcome for these small birds. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirans) also known as coral honeysuckle is already in bloom. Trumpet honeysuckle provides not only nectar but according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, another important feature for hummingbirds – a place to perch. This beautiful vine can serve as a climber or a groundcover. It grows in full sun and likes moisture. Ours is on a trellis next to a birdbath where the birds do their part to keep the ground moist.
Explore this plant at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Another early bloomer is a local native, Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).